Madurai: The leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu, K. Annamalai, lashed out at the ruling DMK government, accusing them of playing politics with the Hindi and Tamil languages. This follows a recent exchange of remarks between the two parties sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement advocating the acceptance of Hindi.
Responding to DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s condemnation of Amit Shah’s statement, Annamalai remarked, “Stalin knows neither Hindi nor English. So he didn’t understand what Amit Shah said.”
The BJP state chief said Amit Shah made it very clear that education in all states should be imparted in the mother tongue.
Annamalai accused the DMK of indulging in shallow political manoeuvres by fixating on the issue of Hindi and Tamil. Annamalai added that the DMK leaders, including Stalin, are focusing on this topic because they lack substantive matters to address.
“DMK is still resorting to cheap politics on Hindi and Tamil languages. Stalin and his ministers have nothing else to talk about and have, hence, resorted to making statements on matters without understanding them,” Annamalai said at a rally in Madurai on Saturday.
Annamalai further asserted that the DMK’s fixation on language politics demonstrates their lack of understanding of broader issues. He referenced Amit Shah’s call for the promotion of all Indian languages, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also showcases Tamil pride during his international visits.
Annamalai expressed confidence that the DMK would not perform well in the upcoming general elections, suggesting that they would face defeat. He also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case. Annamalai quipped that Gandhi’s speeches in Parliament would only strengthen the BJP.
Accusing the ruling DMK of misusing public resources, Annamalai highlighted the case of Minister Senthil Balaji, who is receiving a salary despite being in prison due to a cash-for-jobs scandal. Annamalai argued that if the DMK ministers were to return the allegedly looted funds, it could alleviate the debt burden of Tamil Nadu and the entire country.
Annamalai also criticised CM Stalin for not addressing the longstanding Cauvery water dispute during an Opposition meeting in Karnataka. The dispute has been a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for years.
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